How to Hide Ugly Structures in Your Back Yard

The right vines can cover entire walls in a short amount of time.

Whether it's a hideous metal shed or a chicken coop that could use some love, an ugly outdoor structure can be a difficult hurdle to overcome when you want to create an aesthetically pleasing space. When tearing down that ugly structure is not an option, you could try to hide it by building a trellis and planting fast-growing vines around it.

1

Determine the amount of sun the area gets. If you have two or more sides of the structure to cover, the amount of sun may vary from side to side. Observe the area for a few days and make notes about how much sun the various sides receive. Of course, the sun's pattern will change from season to season, but you'll get a general idea from a few days of observation.

2

Choose vines according to the amount of sun your area gets. Fast-growing vines include clematis, wisteria, honeysuckle or the common trumpet creeper -- but talk to your local extension service or a local nursery to determine the vines that grow best in your area and also match your sun requirements. Also ask about possibilities for plants or shrubs that are evergreen and won't die off during the colder months. Another option is to grow berry bushes such as raspberry or blackberry, as they grow quite tall and spread quickly. When you select a vine, determine whether the vine needs trellising or whether it will grow up exterior walls without a trellis.

3

Till around the structure, creating a few feet of fresh, turned-up soil around the outside walls of the structure. Remove any grass or other debris.

4

Add compost or other soil amendments, such as lime or wood ash, according to the needs of the vine you're going to plant. Work the amendments into the soil with a shovel or hoe. If your selected vines don't need a trellis, you can plant vines or seeds directly into the soil at this time.

5

Dig holes on the outside edges of your planting area, about half as deep as the height of the structure, to build a trellis. For example, if your structure is 8 feet high, you'll want to dig 4-foot holes in which to place 12-foot trellis support poles that will also be 8 feet high above ground.

6

Screw eye hooks into your support poles, about every 12 to 18 inches, on the part of the pole that will be above ground.

7

Place the poles into the holes, with the eye holes facing toward the opposite pole. Have someone hold the pole in place as you pour concrete into the hole. Use a level to ensure the pole is straight as the concrete dries. If necessary, nail support beams to the sides of the poles as the concrete dries. Repeat the process for the pole on the other side of the structure.

8

Wrap support wire from the top eye hook on one side of the structure to the top eye hook on the other side of the structure. Repeat this step for each set of eye hooks.

9

Plant vines or seeds in the ground, under the trellis wires, according to the spacing and depth requirements for the type of vine you've chosen. Water the seeds or vines after planting.

10

Fertilize and water the vines as they grow, to encourage rapid growth. As the vines get bigger, train them to grab onto the trellis wires.

Things You Will Need

Tiller

Compost or soil amendments

Shovel

Measuring tape

Eye hooks

Support poles

Concrete mix

Level

Garden wire

Tip

Instead of wires, you can choose to attach latticework sheets to the support posts. This option has the advantage of continuing to hide your ugly structure, even when the vines die off during colder months.